Sterling man accused of stabbing three family members

Three people were taken to a hospital after a family member allegedly stabbed them in their Sterling, Illinois home.

Police said Richard Snyder, 41, stabbed three adult relatives at a home in the 1000 block of West 4th Street around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

While police were at the victims’ home, someone reported seeing a man armed with a knife who approached another man a short distance from the house. A separate person then told police they saw a man with a knife walking across the Avenue G Bridge.

That’s where police caught up with Snyder and arrested him. Police said Snyder struck an officer during the arrest.

Police said the three family members suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Police charged Snyder with three counts of aggravated battery involving great bodily injury, three counts of aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery on a police officer, unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Snyder made his first appearance in Whiteside County Court on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. He was held in the Whiteside County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond.